Beijing ‘tightens screws’ on Taiwan’s new president

When Tsai Ing-wen becomes Taiwan’s president later this month, she will end a period of unprecedented rapprochement with rival Beijing — and China is already ramping up the pressure on her new government.

Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is traditionally pro-independence and refuses to chime in with Beijing’s message that self-ruling Taiwan is part of “one China”.

Tsai won the presidency by a landslide in January as voters wary of closer China ties turned their backs on the ruling Beijing-friendly Kuomintang.

Since then, with a transitional government in power until Tsai is officially inaugurated on May 20, Beijing has increasingly made life difficult for Taiwan in what observers say is an early challenge to Tsai’s presidency.

Taipei was furious in April after Taiwanese fraud suspects were deported to China from Kenya and Malaysia, rather than back to their home territory. Read More